In celebration of the 54th Eid Al Etihad, the Sharjah government has announced a five-day paid holiday for its employees, marking a significant gesture of recognition for this national occasion. Simultaneously, the UAE has declared a holiday for both public and private schools, ensuring that students and educators alike can partake in the festivities. This decision underscores the nation’s commitment to honoring its cultural heritage and fostering unity among its citizens. The extended break provides an opportunity for families to come together and celebrate the spirit of the occasion. The announcement has been met with widespread appreciation, as it reflects the government’s dedication to enhancing work-life balance and acknowledging the importance of national milestones.
标签： Africa
非洲
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‘Generation Z’ protests spread in Mexico, fuelled by mayor’s murder
Mexico witnessed widespread unrest on Saturday as thousands of demonstrators, rallying under the banner of ‘Generation Z,’ took to the streets to protest escalating violence in the country. The protests were sparked by the brutal public assassination of Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo on November 1, during a Day of the Dead event. In Mexico City, tensions escalated when a group of hooded protesters dismantled fences surrounding the National Palace, the residence of President Claudia Sheinbaum. The confrontation with riot police led to the deployment of tear gas, resulting in injuries to 100 police officers, 40 of whom required hospitalization, and 20 civilians, according to local officials. Public Safety Secretary Pablo Vazquez confirmed the casualties and reported that 20 individuals were arrested, with another 20 facing administrative charges. Protests also erupted in other regions, including Michoacan, where anger over Manzo’s murder remains palpable. Demonstrators in Mexico City directed their frustration at Sheinbaum’s political party, Morena, chanting slogans such as ‘Out, Morena’ and demanding stronger government action against crime. A group identifying as ‘Generation Z Mexico,’ which organized the protests, described itself as non-partisan and representative of Mexican youth disillusioned with violence, corruption, and abuse of power. The term ‘Generation Z’ refers to individuals born between 1997 and 2012, who have increasingly mobilized for social and political change globally. Sheinbaum’s administration, however, questioned the protests’ authenticity, suggesting they were largely orchestrated by right-leaning political opponents and amplified by social media bots.
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K-pop star, actor Nana injured after subduing home intruder
South Korean K-pop star and actress Nana, whose real name is Im Jin-ah, was injured while helping to subdue a home intruder early Saturday morning. The incident occurred at her residence in the suburbs of Seoul, where a man in his 30s broke in with the intent to steal valuables. Nana, along with her mother, engaged in a physical struggle with the intruder, ultimately overpowering him and leading to his arrest. Both Nana and her mother sustained serious injuries during the altercation, with her mother briefly losing consciousness. They are currently receiving medical treatment and are under observation in the hospital. The suspect is now in police custody, facing charges of aggravated robbery. Nana, who debuted in 2009 as a member of the girl group After School and later gained fame as part of the sub-unit Orange Caramel, has transitioned into acting, securing prominent roles in television dramas. Her agency has yet to comment on the incident.
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UAE weather: Lowest temperature 19°C in Dubai; fog expected in some parts
As winter sets in across the United Arab Emirates, temperatures have begun to drop significantly, marking a shift in the region’s weather patterns. On Saturday, November 15, 2025, the National Centre of Meteorology reported the lowest temperature of 11.7°C in Mezaira, located in the Al Dhafra Region, at 6:15 AM. This cooling trend is expected to continue, with Dubai forecasted to experience a low of 19°C on Sunday, while Abu Dhabi and Sharjah will see temperatures of 20°C and 18°C, respectively. Meanwhile, the highest temperature recorded on Saturday was 35°C in Sweihan, Al Ain, at 2 PM. On Sunday, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are expected to reach a maximum of 31°C. The UAE’s skies will remain fair to partly cloudy, with low clouds forming over the sea and islands. Humidity is anticipated to increase by night and into Monday morning, particularly in coastal and internal areas, raising the likelihood of fog or mist formation. Light to moderate southeasterly to northeasterly winds, ranging from 10-20 km/h and occasionally reaching 30 km/h, will prevail. The Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea will experience slight sea conditions. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather developments as the season progresses.
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Flexible work, marriage leave: UAE rolls out benefits for parents ahead of ‘Year of Family’
In anticipation of the UAE’s designation of 2026 as the ‘Year of the Family,’ local governments across the Emirates are rolling out a series of progressive policies aimed at enhancing work-life balance and supporting working parents. These initiatives focus on integrating family responsibilities with professional life, offering flexibility and comprehensive support to strengthen the modern family unit.
Ajman has taken a leading role with a comprehensive overhaul of its Human Resources law for government employees. Key provisions include flexible working hours and remote work options, extensive family leave such as enhanced maternity and paternity leave, marriage leave, childcare leave, and bereavement leave. Additionally, pregnant employees and those raising five or more children will benefit from increased work-hour flexibility.
Dubai and Sharjah have introduced paid marriage leave policies to support the formation and stability of new families. Dubai offers 10 working days of fully paid marriage leave to Emirati nationals, including all salary allowances, effective from 2025. Sharjah provides eight days of paid marriage leave and a unique ‘Care Leave’ for female employees who give birth to a sick child or a child with disabilities requiring constant care.
Abu Dhabi has focused on social and civil family law reforms, particularly for its non-Muslim expatriate community. The 2021 Civil Family Law introduced a secular alternative to Sharia-based personal status laws, offering civil options for marriage, divorce, and custody. Key features include legal registration of civil marriages, a non-fault divorce process, and equal custody rights for both parents. The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has also extended maternity leave rights to female employees who adopt a child under five years old or experience a stillbirth or miscarriage after 24 weeks.
These initiatives build upon federal reforms, including five days of paid parental leave for all working parents within the first six months of a child’s birth, extended child custody to the age of 18, and equal travel rights for both parents. These measures reflect the UAE’s commitment to promoting shared parental responsibility and enhancing family well-being.
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South Africa shock India in low-scoring thriller
In a dramatic turn of events, South Africa clinched their first Test victory on Indian soil since 2010, defeating the hosts by 30 runs in a low-scoring thriller at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. The match, which concluded within three days, saw the Proteas overcome a first-innings deficit to secure a memorable win. South Africa, fresh from their World Test Championship triumph at Lord’s earlier in the summer, showcased resilience and tactical brilliance to outplay India in challenging conditions. Veteran spinner Simon Harmer was the standout performer, claiming eight wickets across both innings (4-30 and 4-21) to dismantle India’s batting lineup. India, chasing a modest target of 124, collapsed to 93 all out in just 35 overs, with Harmer and Keshav Maharaj (2-37) wreaking havoc on the middle order. South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 55 in the second innings to steer his team to a competitive total of 153. India’s woes were compounded by the absence of captain Shubman Gill, who retired hurt on day two due to a neck injury and was ruled out of the remainder of the match. The second and final Test of the series is scheduled to begin in Guwahati on November 22, where India will look to bounce back from this unexpected defeat.
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Thieves in France steal jewellery worth up to $1.2 mn: Police
In a daring robbery, thieves in northern France have stolen jewelry valued at up to $1.2 million, according to police reports on Saturday. The burglars targeted a jewelry boutique in central Roubaix, near Lille, on Wednesday. During the heist, they briefly held the jeweler and his wife hostage before escaping with the valuable items. The stolen jewels are estimated to be worth between 500,000 and one million euros ($580,000 to $1.2 million). Authorities have initiated an investigation into charges of kidnapping, organized crime, and armed extortion. This incident follows another high-profile theft earlier on Wednesday, where individuals blew up a cash transfer safe at Roubaix’s main post office. However, the stolen bag contained only empty bags, leading to the arrest of six suspects that evening. These heists come in the wake of a recent raid on the Louvre museum in Paris, where a gang stole jewelry worth an estimated $102 million in broad daylight last month.
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Dubai T100 men’s race ends in confusion with miscounted laps; organisers issue statement
The Dubai T100 Triathlon men’s race concluded in disarray on Saturday due to a technical glitch in lap counting, leaving athletes and organizers scrambling for clarity. The event, featuring an 80km bike ride and an 18km run, saw several participants inadvertently complete extra laps, prompting the organizers to temporarily remove the results while investigating the issue. A joint statement from the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon attributed the confusion to a malfunction in the lap counting board and timing system. The official results were ultimately determined based on the 7th lap, adhering to World Triathlon guidelines. Morgan Pierson was declared the winner with 35 points, followed by Mika Noodt and Gregory Barnaby. The confusion primarily involved athletes Hayden Wilde, Marten Van Riel, and Mathis Margirier, who completed an extra bike lap, while Pierson appeared to run an additional lap. The T100 event, known for attracting elite professional racers and community participants, reinforced Dubai’s status as a global hub for endurance sports. In contrast, the women’s race proceeded smoothly, with Switzerland’s Julie Derron claiming victory, followed by Britain’s Kate Waugh and Jessica Learmonth. The incident has raised questions about the reliability of race management systems, especially with high stakes as athletes vie for positions in the Race to Qatar finale in December.
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Shah Rukh Khan makes history as first star with Dubai skyscraper named after him
In a historic moment that bridges the worlds of cinema, real estate, and global stardom, Shah Rukh Khan, the iconic ‘Badshah of Bollywood,’ has become the first actor to have a skyscraper named after him in Dubai. The announcement was made at a grand event in Mumbai on Friday, hosted by his longtime friend, director-choreographer Farah Khan. The 55-storey commercial tower, named ‘Shahrukhz by Danube,’ will be constructed on Sheikh Zayed Road by the Danube Group. The project marks Shah Rukh’s entry into the real estate sector and symbolizes his enduring connection with Dubai, a city he considers his second home. The actor, who owns a luxurious villa named ‘Jannat’ in Palm Jumeirah, expressed his gratitude, stating, ‘It is humbling and deeply touching to have a landmark in Dubai carry my name and to be an integral part of the cityscape forever.’ The 1-million sqft tower, with prices starting from Dh1.7 million, is designed to attract entrepreneurs, innovators, and fast-growing businesses. It will also feature a statue of Shah Rukh in his iconic pose at the entrance, offering a photo opportunity for visitors. The project is expected to be completed by 2029.
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Meet UAE-based researcher who was among 255 students to win Google fellowship
Muhammad Maaz, a researcher based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first Gulf region recipient of the prestigious Google PhD Fellowship in Machine Perception. The announcement came as a surprise to Maaz, who was engrossed in coding when he received the news from Professor Ian Reid, Chair of Computer Vision at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI).
The Google PhD Fellowship, now in its 16th year, is a highly competitive program that selects 255 PhD students globally from thousands of nominees across 35 countries and 12 research domains. Each university can nominate only four students, making the selection process exceptionally rigorous. The fellowship offers an annual stipend of $85,000, mentorship from Google Research, and access to a global network of researchers.
Maaz’s achievement is particularly significant as it challenges the narrative of regional brain drain, where talented researchers often leave the Middle East for opportunities abroad. Instead, Maaz chose to pursue his research in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the growing potential of the UAE as a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation.
His work focuses on developing multimodal large language models that enable machines to not only see but also understand and communicate about what they observe. “Imagine ChatGPT, but for videos,” Maaz explained. “You could upload a clip, ask questions about what’s happening, or request summaries and insights.” These advancements could revolutionize applications ranging from automated video analysis and surveillance to educational tools and accessibility features for visually impaired individuals.
Maaz attributes his success to the supportive environment at MBZUAI, where professors manage small research groups, providing direct guidance that is often challenging to achieve in larger institutions. “The support system here allows researchers to work without distraction,” he said. MBZUAI, founded in 2019, has a highly selective acceptance rate of 5%, enrolling 403 students this year from over 8,000 applicants.
Maaz’s achievement is not just a personal milestone but also a testament to the UAE’s vision and commitment to fostering innovation and research. “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the vision of the UAE’s leadership and the environment MBZUAI has created,” he said. “The best way I can give back is by making the most of these opportunities and striving to produce research that makes the region proud.”